To consider the submitted report on the above.

Further to the Council’s decision on 21 June 2018, members received the submitted report on an update and indicative timeline on the delivery of affordable homes in Torbay.  The report also set out proposals to transfer land and buildings at St Kilda’s former residential care home to a Council owned subsidiary or wholly owned company at nil value to provide affordable homes and meet the objectives of the Housing Strategy. 

A Conservative amendment was circulated prior to the meeting, which was accepted by the Elected Mayor and incorporated in his motion.

Elected Mayor Oliver proposed and Councillor Stocks seconded a motion, which was agreed (unanimously) by the Council as set out below:

(i)         that the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Elected Mayor and Group Leaders, be instructed to deliver the affordable housing schemes at Redwell Lane, Totnes Road and St Kilda’s as a matter of urgency, in such a manner as will lead to a cost effective and rapid delivery of the schemes. That the Chief Executive shall ensure that written updates as to progress are provided to each meeting of the Housing Committee and that an update is provided to Council at its meeting on 5 December 2018.  If necessary, to ensure rapid delivery of the schemes, this to include the engagement of external resources, the costs of which to be met from the CSR Reserve, to a maximum of £20,000;

(ii)        that, if the Chief Executive determines in (i), that the schemes, whether individually or collectively shall be delivered through a Council owned subsidiary, then:

(a)       subject to (b) below, the land at St Kilda’s, shown edged red on the plan attached at Appendix 1 to the submitted report, and land at Redwell Lane and Totnes Road (as shown edged red on the plans attached to the Conservative amendment) be disposed of at Nil value to a Council owned subsidiary or company wholly owned by Torbay Council under the Local Government Act 1972: General Disposal Consent Order 2003, in return for nomination rights;  and

(b)       that the Council enter into a satisfactory grant and nomination agreement with a Council owned subsidiary or company wholly owned by Torbay Council detailing what is to be provided on the land and the Council’s nomination rights for 100% of the affordable properties on the site in perpetuity and to delegate authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Executive Lead for Housing to agree the detailed terms of this agreement;

(iii)       that, if the Chief Executive determines in (i) above that the schemes shall be delivered by the Council, then the value of the St Kilda’s land will be included in the scheme at NIL value and the land at Totnes Road and Redwell Lane shall not then be transferred to a wholly owned company, but shall be included in the schemes at NIL value;  and

(iv)      that the Chief Executive undertakes a fundamental review of the delivery and implementation of the Housing Strategy, including the use of the Housing Company as part of that delivery, and report the outcome of the same to Council at its meeting on 20 September 2018.